In 2009,
the Trolleybus Museum in Sandtoft, UK acquired BBC trolleybus #189 from
Edmonton. If you read my Western Canada Trip Report, you’ll know my friend Mark
and I rode it in Edmonton in 2007. #189 was the last trolleybus I ever rode in
the city as they stopped running trolleybuses a little more than two years
after that trip.

Here’s BBC #189 seen in Edmonton on my Western Canada Trip.

I had
thought about seeing it but thought it was highly unlikely. However in
September of 2013, I was with a friend and I mentioned #189 going to England
and he looked at the museum’s website and saw a photo and gave me the idea of
going to see it. After looking online at plane tickets, I began to get
interested.

I’d be
riding trains in Europe so I wanted to compare a train ride in North America.
My initial plan was flying out of New York, but before I could book, the fight
I intended to take was sold out. I came up with a new plan from flying out of
Montreal to Paris to ride through the Channel Tunnel as was my mom’s idea.

Meanwhile,
a transit society near Dublin, Ireland acquired a fishbowl from TTC! I was
aware of a society expressing interest in acquiring a TTC fishbowl since the
fall of 2008. While they didn’t end up acquiring the “infamous” #2855 which led
me to my Michigan Trip, the bus they chose; #2290 was one of the buses used on
the charter I was attending when I stood up to the driver of it’s slightly
older sister #2855. #2855 and #2290 were both running in service on December
16, 2011.

Here’s TTC #2290 on its last day of service. This bus ended up going to
Ireland!

I contacted
someone from the society who owns #2290 and arranged to meet up where I would
hopefully get to ride it.

My plan was
to ride VIA to Dorval and catch a shuttle to the airport. I would then fly out
of Montreal’s Airport to Paris where I would catch a TGV to Lille Europe and
transfer to the Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel. I would then take a
British train to Doncaster where I would spend a few nights before I headed to
London where I’d overnight before catching a flight to Dublin.

Once in
Dublin, I’d spend a day seeing #2290 and other stuff before I flew home to
Toronto the day after. This trip unfolded as follows.

June 18, 2014:

I left home
shortly after 10:00 am. My dad gave me a ride to Finch. I arrived at Union a
little while later. I had some time, so I wandered around. I made it before
11:00 am. I lined up for VIA train #64. Train #64 was formerly VIA train #60,
but was renumbered by VIA coming up with new numbering schemes from their
Toronto to Montreal trains. Trains that go through Ottawa are now numbered in
the 50 series and trains that take the more direct route through Cornwall are
numbered in the 60 series now.

Boarding
began at 11:12 am. I was seated in HEP2 coach #4106; the second last car on the
train. The train left on time. As we departed, I filmed the equipment that
would be train #44 to Ottawa. Next I filmed train #61 which was led by F40PH-2
#6453; the last F40 to have been rebuilt.

I tried to
log into the Wi-Fi, but it wasn't working at first. It soon started working.

A westbound
VIA train passed, but I was unable to film it. I did film the equipment at
Greenwood subway yard. I could make out H-4 #5611 which was still in its
passenger configuration but missing its mate which had been converted into a
work car.

The train
stopped at Guildwood. We departed at 11:50 am.As we passed through Whitby, a westbound CN freight passed. We stopped
at Oshawa a few minutes later.

East of
Oshawa, our line was running parallel to the CP line.

The train
stopped at Cobourg. I noticed that an additional platform had been built there.
We departed Cornwall a little later.

My ticket
was finally taken. I bought lunch. We passed the Memory Junction Railway
Museum, but I was unable to film it. The train passed through Trenton Junction.
We stopped at Belleville a little while later. VIA train #63 passed, but I was
unable to film it.

The train
passed through Napanee. We stopped in Kingston a little while later. VIA train
#65 passed, but I was unable to film it. VIA train #47 passed, but I was unable
to film it.

I bought a
can of Coke from the VIA attendant as he came by. The train stopped at
Brockville. After leaving Brockville, we passed a couple CN freight trains as
well as some track vehicles. We stopped at Cornwall a few minutes later.

The train
crossed from Ontario into Quebec. Soon, we were nearing Dorval. I readied my
stuff in preparation to get off.

Train #64
arrived into Dorval on time. I got off and photographed the train.

I then
filmed the train pulling out and took one last photo.

I then went
to the station and waited for the shuttle to the airport. The shuttle came a
few minutes later and we departed. It was a short drive to the airport, but we
got caught in traffic approaching the terminal. While I was waiting, I
photographed an Air Canada plane.

I then got
to the terminal. I photographed the shuttle bus.

I would be
flying Air Transat both ways across the Atlantic.I went inside the terminal and lined up to
check in. The line was very long. While I was in line, I phoned home and left a
message saying I was in Montreal.

When I
checked in, I asked if they could ensure my suitcase could come sooner rather
than later. They said I could and put a sticker saying “Priority” around it. I
then went to clear security.

The line to
clear security was very long, but I had plenty of time. I cleared security with
no real problems. I then made my way to my gate. I photographed a few planes.

This Air Canada A319 was painted in the old Trans Canada Airlines
livery.

I saw Air
Transat Airbus A330 C-GITS which is nicknamed the Azores Glider. In August of
2001, the plane was flying from Toronto to Portugal when a fuel leak occurred
in one of the plane's engines. The pilots ended up making the problem worse by
opened a cross feed valve from the other engine which led to the plane running
out of fuel over the Atlantic Ocean! Like with Air Canada's Gimli Glider, the
pilots were able to glide the plane to a military base in the Azores where the
landed successfully.

An
investigation into the incident showed that Air Transat mechanics had used the
wrong part on the engine that caused the fuel leak. The airline was found
negligent and was seriously fined.

In the wake
of the incident, the CBC comedy show “Royal Canadian Air Farce” made light of
the incident in a skit where once of the actors said the following quote, “New
promotions from Air Transat and Air Canada: Air Transat offers flights across
the Ocean. Air Canada offers flights across the ocean with fuel!”

Needless to
say, I photographed the Azores Glider.

The Azores Glider
departs Montreal.

I have now
photographed three “incident planes”: Air Canada’s Gimli Glider, the Jetblue
plane that Steven Slater made his infamous exit out of, and now the Azores
Glider.

After
finding my gate, I felt hungry. I went had dinner at a restaurant in the
airport. After dinner, I bought some maple candy at a “Les Delices de l’Erable”
store in the airport. I then returned to my gate just at the plane I would be
flying on was arriving.

I would be
flying on an Airbus A310; not as big as an A330. My plane started boarding. I
had window seat 12A which was kind of cramped. The plane was a wide body jet
with the economy section having three rows of three seats.

From my
plane, I photographed an Air Algerie jet.

The plane
left 25 minutes late. We were held up for a couple minutes because we were
blocked by an Air Canada Rouge jet. We had a long taxi out to the runway. My TGV
was scheduled to leave at 11:07 am and it was tight already. I did have a plan
B if I missed it though.

When we
took off, I filmed the takeoff. I reset all my clocks on me to Paris Time. I
pulled down the window shade and tried to nap.

Flight
attendants offered to dinner but since I had eaten before I got on the plane, I
declined. Even if I had known what would be served, I would still have eaten at
the airport.

June 19, 2014:

I tried to
sleep on the plane but found it practically impossible. They showed two movies
including the Secret Life of Walter Mitty. In between movies, they showed the
plane's progress. We would be over 30 minutes late into Paris.

I kept
opening the window shade and watched the sun slowly come up.

Awhile
later, breakfast was served on the plane. They showed four TV shows on the
plane's in flight movie.

I was given
a survey to fill out. I filled it out since I could win $2000 in travel
vouchers with Air Transat. I have plans for how to use it. We were approaching
Paris. I filmed the landing. As we were taxiing to the gate, I saw a Concorde
on display.

We got to
Terminal 3 at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Instead of using a jet way to
go into the terminal, they brought stairs up to the plane. I got off and
photographed the plane and the Concord on display.

I had only
seen the Concorde twice before; and both times it was a Concorde flown by
British Airways. The first time was in 1995 when it flew over my house as I was
coming home from school. The second time was in 2003 when I saw it land at
Pearson Airport for the last time.

I boarded a
shuttle bus to the terminal. I lined up for customs. I had brought a
French-English dictionary with me. However, my passport was just stamped and I
was allowed to go to the baggage claim.Easiest border crossing ever!

When I got
to the baggage claim, I saw my suitcase had already come out. I ran around to
the far side and got it. This was the first time my suitcase beat me to the
baggage claim!

I made my
way to the SNCF station to see about getting on my TGV. By the time I got
there, I just missed the train. Maybe if my plane was on time it would have
been different.

However,
the SNCF employees I spoke with directed me to the main station building. To
get there, I had to ride the shuttle train to Terminal 2. When I got to
terminal 2, a woman was asked me to fill out a form for a charity including how
much I was donating. I donated nothing since this trip obviously wasn't cheap.
I was able to find the main office and was able to get my tickets changed to
the next train which was scheduled to leave just before 1:30 pm.

While
waiting, I photographed another TGV at the station and filmed two TGV trains
coupled together passing through the station.

I saw there
was a stationary bicycle that was used to generate electricity to charge
peoples' cell phones or other electronic devices. However, the bike I used
wasn't working, but it was quite an interesting concept! I could imagine
something like that at Union Station in Toronto. Near the stationary bicycles
was a piano open to anyone who could play. At one point, someone did start
playing.

I found a
working AC outlet in the station. Europe runs on different voltage from North
America. However, I was prepared by having bought some converters for my laptop
and other electronic devices.

I also
bought lunch from a shop in the station. I went back to waiting. Soon, my TGV
was approaching. I saw that it was another double TGV and the train I intended
to take was further down the platform. I walked down and as the TGV pulled in,
I filmed it.

The train I
was taking was a bi-level TGV. I boarded the train in the second class car and
sat down. I noticed the coach was a little hot. While I was waiting for the
train to depart, I photographed a commuter train that would take people into
downtown Paris.

My train
soon departed. I would be on the train for 50 minutes.During that time, we only made one stop. The
conductor never took my ticket. During the ride, we passed a few TGVs and a
couple Eurostar trains heading towards Paris. At one point, I saw a work train
on a siding.

The train
arrived at Lille Europe. I got off and photographed the train.

I then went
to board the Eurostar.There was a queue
line that led through a border crossing. When people were allowed through, they
made non Europeans go through more stringent questioning, but not much worse
than when I ride the Maple Leaf across the U.S.-Canada border. I also had to
put my luggage through an X-ray machine. However, I was soon allowed to clear
the inspection area and went to a waiting room to await the departure of the
Eurostar to Britain.

I was
assigned a specific car and seat. A few minutes before the train arrived, we
were allowed down onto the platform. The Eurostar trains have 18 coaches and
two locomotives. I would be in the 16th car back from the
locomotive. I made my way to where the 16th car would stop. When the
train pulled in, I filmed it.

I boarded
the train and sat down the train soon departed. I went to one of the two cafe
cars on the train. The train entered the channel tunnel. When we emerged into
Britain, I filmed the Le Shuttle terminal. The Le Shuttle gives truckers a way
to go into and out of Britain.

The train
made one stop before we departed. We arrived into London's St. Pancras station
on time. I got off and photographed the train.

I followed
the crowd into the station. There was a secondary customs inspection that
called me in. The agent opened my suitcase, but wasn't too anal. I was soon
allowed to go.

I still had
to catch a train to Doncaster.I went
across the street to Kings Cross station.I lined up to see an agent about getting my tickets changed. I was told
I had to pay for a new ticket. I could either pay 39 British pounds and take a
train leaving in two hours time or 43 pounds for a train leaving in 16 minutes.
I chose the sooner train because I was now tired from jet lag and I wanted to
get to Doncaster as soon as possible.

After
getting my ticket and finding my platform. I photographed the train I would
take before I got on.

My train
was run by East Coast Rail. I found that individual seats were reserved for
people and that if I wanted a seat, I had to wait until the train departed to
see if a seat was unoccupied which I found absurd, but I felt I had no choice.
The train departed on time. I found a free seat right after we left. My ticket was
taken.

I went to
the cafe car but there was nothing available that interested me. I decided to
wait until we got to Doncaster just over 90 minutes away.

The train
stopped at Peterborough. The person who I was sitting next to was also going to
Doncaster. From the train, I saw what looked like a nuclear power plant with
many cooling towers.

Soon, we
were approaching Doncaster. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off.

My train arrived
into Doncaster two minutes late. I got off and photographed the train.

I filmed
the train pulling out. I photographed some equipment near the station.

I then went
downstairs and found a ticket machine. I used it to print my ticket back to
London on Monday. I saw there was a Subway restaurant in the station. However,
I didn't feel like Subway. However, there was a mall next to the station with a
Burger King in the food court. I went there and bought dinner. I then caught a
taxi to my hotel which was a Holiday Inn Express. This was the first time I
stayed at a Holiday Inn Express since 2003 when I was at SAIT. I stayed at a
Holiday Inn Express in Edmonton so I could ride the BBC trolleybuses; kind of
like I'm doing now!

I checked
in to the hotel. By a stroke of luck, my room was the closest to the lobby. I
went to my room and discovered that some of the lights and outlets needed me to
put my key card into a slot just inside the door to work! I have never seen
anything like this.

I logged
into the Wi-Fi and posted that I was at my hotel in Doncaster. I was very
tired, so I decided to sleep, even though it was 7:30 pm

June 20, 2014:

I woke up
at 1:20 am. I went online for about 10 minutes and went back to bed.

I woke up
at 9:52 am. I had slept through the free breakfast. I got dressed and headed
out for somewhere I could have breakfast.I eventually got something at a gas station a block away from my hotel.
After breakfast, I returned to my room for a little while. I then headed out. I
photographed a bus in service.

I walked
further and found a bus stop. I decided to continue walking. I walked across a
bridge over the railway line and photographed some EWS locomotives including a
couple painted in parent Wisconsin Central (now owned by CN) livery; a little
reminder of home.

I walked
for awhile. I found myself on a road with no bus stop or any sort of transit
service. I kept walking until I encountered a roundabout. I saw a bus stop on
one side and walked there. The next bus came 8 minutes later. I rode it
downtown to a mini terminal outside the mall near the train station. I got off
and photographed the bus.

I saw that
the bus was operated by First Group; parent of First Student. If you read some
of my previous reports, I noted that York Region Transit contracted their
northern division to First Student and some of their drivers were THE WORST
when it came to photography. After the strike that crippled 60% of YRT's routes
from 2-3 months, First Student was one of the three contractors on strike. In
January of 2012, YRT canceled their contract with First Student leaving those
drivers unemployed. The other contractors soon settled with YRT. Needless to
say, I wasn't sad to see First Student loose the contract as I have no respect
for transit employees who hassle me for photography when I know I'm allowed to
take pictures.

I went into
the mall and looked around in various stores. I saw an HMV in the mall. I also
had a massage in a coin operated massage chair.

After
awhile, I walked over to a McDonald's for lunch. After lunch, I photographed
some buses.

I then went
back to the mall. I found out where I would be boarding a bus to the trolleybus
museum the next day.I eventually
boarded a route 70 bus back to my hotel. I got off at a stop right in front of
my hotel I didn't notice earlier. It would really come in handy the next few
days.

I went to
my room and worked on this report for a bit.I went online and learned the last run of the H-6 subway cars in Toronto
went off without a hitch. I have now missed the last runs of the H-4s, H-5s,
and H-6s. (I missed the last H-4 run due to it being early and I had work that
day. I missed the last H-5 run because I was on the BHA trip in Montreal last
year).

I got my
bathing suit and prepared to go out again. I had heard there was a water park
in the area. I got directions and boarded a bus. I ended up going back to the
transit terminal and transferring to a double decker bus on route 55b. I got to
the water park and went inside. I got changed. I noticed there were individual
changing stalls instead of a men’s change room and a women’s change room. I
went there and went down the three waterslides that were open. I also got to
swim through some simulated rapids.

After
awhile, I decided I had enough and got changed and left.I photographed the building where the water
park was which is known as “the dome”.

I then
walked back to the bus stop. I waited for the next bus. When it arrived, I
photographed it.

I got on
the bus and paid my fare. The fare isn't a flat rate as I found out and there
were no transfers when I got to the bus terminal and boarded my bus back to my
hotel after I bought dinner.

After I
returned to my hotel, I set the alarm on my cell phone for 8:30 am and called
it a night.